It’s no secret that NGOs are feeling the heat under the Modi regime. Office-bearers of registered NGOs were required to appear in person before ministry officials this year for getting their annual grants cleared. Some theatre groups registered as NGOs had reportedly been told to prepare plays on the government’s Swachh Bharat campaign and take them to schools. The plays had to be videographed and uploaded on YouTube. Other NGOs have been asked to junk their activities in favour of other pet government projects like Skilling India.

West BengalTempering down

After taking over the reins from his brother Aveek Sarkar, the new head of the Ananda Bazaar Patrika group, Arup Sarkar, held a private meeting with ABP editors and reporters in which he discussed the media group’s “approach”. He reportedly said while the group would strive to be neutral and unbiased, its reportage in the initial days may seem somewhat “pro-Mamata” to counter-balance the negative coverage in the run-up to the assembly elections despite which Mamata won with a thumping majority.

Andhra PradeshMixed signals

The fresh camaraderie between Narendra Modi and Telangana CM K. Chandrasekhara Rao has left the Chandrababu Naidu camp in an uneasy state. At a recent public meeting, KCR showered praise on the PM and Modi returned the flattery in equal measure. Such chemistry has rarely been witnessed between Naidu and Modi. Naidu is, however, cautioning his colleagues from jumping to conclusions. He feels Modi will not grant anything special to Telangana while matters in Andhra remain unresolved.

Heard A Union minister was behind the BCCI brainwave to get in ­Justice Markandey Katju to punch holes in the Lodha panel reforms.

Overheard The I&B ministry has turned its suspicious eyes on some community radio stations that refused to broadcast ‘Mann ki Baat’.

And Also

DeadDays after a Supreme Court ruling ended his stint as Arunachal CM, Kalikho Pul, 47, found dead in his bungalow, in an alleged suicide.

DeadPakistan cricket great Hanif Mohammed, 81. Original ‘Little Master’ whose stylish batting yielded him a slew of records that stood for decades: including the highest score in Tests (377), first-class (499).

A New IronA phase of non-violent resistance, as epic as it was iconic, ended when Irom Sharmila brought her 16-year-old protest fast against AFSPA in Manipur to a close. Her desire to take her fight to active politics elicits mixed feelings, though.

ChargedFormer ISRO chairman G. Madhavan Nair has been chargesheeted by the CBI in the “Rs 578 crore scam” alleged in the Antrix-Devas deal. The rights granted to the firm for multimedia delivery under a cloud.